03/05/2024 07:00:00 AMThe Transplant Program’s history of service and dedication to the community dates back more than 50 years. The program was established in 1965 by Samuel L. Kountz, M.D., an African-American pioneer in transplantation who then served as Downstate’s Chief of Surgery. The program continues to carry out Dr. Kountz’s legacy, breaking barriers in transplant medicine and increasing access to transplant care.Office of the President